Monthly Archives: February 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 18, 2016 – Washington state once again makes a strong showing on the Peace Corps’ list of top volunteer-producing colleges and universities with three Evergreen State schools holding the top spot in their enrollment category. The University of Washington ranks No. 1 among large volunteer-producing colleges and universities and also appears on the agency’s list of top volunteer-producing graduate schools. Gonzaga University and the University of Puget Sound share the title of No. 1 among small schools, rounding out three of the seven total Washington state schools on the 2016 list.

The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., claims the top spot among medium-sized colleges and universities, followed closely by local rival American University. Georgetown University and Howard University—which remains the first and only historically black university to appear on the list—join George Washington and American as D.C.-based schools to rank in the medium-sized enrollment category, taking the No. 7 and No. 14 spots, respectively.

Among graduate schools, Tulane University holds the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive year. The University of California, Berkeley remains the all-time highest producer of Peace Corps volunteers in the country, with more than 3,600 alumni to have served since the Peace Corps was founded in 1961.

“The Peace Corps is a unique opportunity for college graduates to put their education into practice and become agents of change in communities around the world,” Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “Today’s graduates understand the importance of intercultural understanding and are raising their hands in record numbers to take on the challenge of international service.”

Simmons College—one of the few women’s colleges on the list—made the largest leap in rank this year, moving from unranked to No. 8 among small colleges and universities. Emory University moved from No. 24 to No. 8 on the list of medium-sized schools and Indiana University Bloomington jumped to No. 7 from No. 20 in the large enrollment category.

Below are the top five colleges and universities in each category and the number of alumni who are currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers.

Large Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:
More than 15,000 undergraduates
1. University of Washington (72)
2. University of Wisconsin–Madison (68)
3. University of Florida (59)
3. University of Minnesota (59)
5. University of Colorado Boulder (53)

Medium Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:
Between 5,000 and 15,000 undergraduates
1. The George Washington University (43)
2. American University (42)
3. Western Washington University (41)
4. Cornell University (38)
5. University of Virginia (36)

Small Colleges & Universities – Total Volunteers:
Less than 5,000 undergraduates
1. Gonzaga University (18)
1. University of Puget Sound (18)
3. Macalester College (17)
4. The Evergreen State College (13)
4. Carleton College (13)

Graduate Schools – Total Volunteers:
1. Tulane University (18)
2. University of Denver (17)
2. University of Michigan (17)
4. University of Washington (16)
5. American University (15)

Historical, Since 1961 – Total Volunteers:
1. University of California, Berkeley (3,615)
2. University of Wisconsin–Madison (3,184)
3. University of Washington (2,937)
4. University of Michigan (2,640)
5. University of Colorado Boulder (2,435)

* Rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2015 data as of September 30, 2015, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.

In advance of the top schools announcement, the Peace Corps gave an exclusive preview of the top-ranked schools on the agency’s new Snapchat account and premiered an interactive map that enables users to see where alumni from a given university are serving. In 2015, the agency saw a 40-year high in application numbers, reinforcing the Peace Corps’ role as a dynamic, forward-leaning champion for international service more than half a century after its creation.

About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps sends the best and brightest Americans abroad on behalf of the United States to address the most pressing needs of people around the world. Volunteers work with their community members at the grassroots level to develop sustainable solutions to challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their service, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 220,000 Americans of all ages have served in 141 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Riverwoods, IL, Feb. 18, 2016 – The beaches in Florida are warming up, and that can only mean one thing: spring break. You may think hitting the road with friends or jetting off with your family will drain your bank account, but it doesn’t have to. Here are five tips to help you return from your trip with some cash in your pocket:

1. Hit the road
Depending on your destination, it may be cheaper to drive than fly. To break up the monotony of a long drive, do some research before you get behind the wheel and plan to stop at designated landmarks or local restaurants along the way. Not only will these stops give you opportunities to stretch your legs, but they also allow you to see, or eat at, some places that you would normally miss if you flew.

2. Don’t Pay Too Much for Your Activities
Take some time before your vacation to plan out what you will do when you are there. This can help eliminate some spur of the moment costs. Organize a self-guided tour based off recommendations and reviews from various on-line city guides, or if you are staying at a hotel, make sure to ask the front desk. Getting local feedback and direction on ‘do’s and don’ts’ in the area can help you avoid tourist traps and wasting funds. Also, remember that a lot of attractions have student discounts, so don’t forget your school ID.

3. Give back on break
Want to support people in need this year on your spring break? Try volunteering with a group to build a house or through a school sponsored trip that is affiliated with a campus organization. These trips often include transportation, lodging and depending on the package, some meals may be covered. These are great ways to meet new people, create lasting memories with friends and serve your community, without spending too much money.

4. Travel off the beaten path
If you’re traveling with a large group, look into rental swaps or lodging a little further away from the action to reduce costs. Even if you’re traveling to a spring break hot spot, staying 15 to 20 minutes outside of the downtown area will likely mean reduced costs for lodging and food. If you are able to find a place that has a kitchen, all the better! Make sure you stop at a grocery store and stock up on essentials. You can take turns cooking dinner with each person making their favorite meal.

5. Earn cash as you spend
Get a rewards credit card that gives you cash back to put toward future purchases. With the Discover it® chrome for Students credit card, you can earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 of purchases each quarter. Also, as a new cardmember, all cash back earned during your first year will be doubled1. As you’re headed out on your trip, stopping at restaurants and filling up your tank, you can start thinking about how you can use the cash back you’ll earn!

Now that you have the tools to budget for spring break, go enjoy your week off with friends and family.

Brought to You by Discover

Discover Student Credit Cards
The Discover it® chrome for Students and Discover it® for Students credit cards offer students a great way to build credit early in their lives. These student cards come with many benefits including rewards on popular student categories, options for support if they miss a payment and resources to help students understand their credit information and manage their finances. For more information, visit www.discover.com/student.

About Discover
Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America’s cash rewards pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home equity loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its direct banking business. It operates the Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation’s leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.

1. Double First Year Cash Back: After 12 consecutive billing periods that your new account is open, we will double all of the cash back rewards you’ve earned and apply them to your account in the following one or two billing periods. You’ve earned rewards when they have posted to your account by the end of the 12th consecutive billing period. You will not receive Double Cash Back if your account is closed or no longer in the cash back reward program as of the award date. This promotional offer may not be offered in the future. This exclusive offer is available only to new cardmembers.

OBERLIN, OHIO, February 18, 2016 – Most college textbooks cost a lot less than celebrity tweeters, like Kanye West, and many other people may think, according to the National Association of College Stores (NACS), which keeps its finger on the pulse of course materials.

Students have many options beyond purchasing new textbooks, and it is because of the many options available today that student spending has decreased. Here are some of the options students should explore in their search for savings on course materials:

Rent, buy used or acquire electronic course materials. Almost all campus stores offer these options, giving cost-conscious students access to course materials for about one-third to half the price of buying new.

Shop early. Students should shop as early as possible in order to beat the beginning-of-semester rush. The sooner you shop, the more options you have, particularly with used and rental course materials.

Use price-comparison tools. Check the campus store’s website for a price-comparison tool. Students can save time and money by finding the best option at the best price.

Talk to the campus store. If students can’t find what they are looking for or simply want to know if there are lower cost options available, ask the campus store. The store’s employees are course material professionals and are happy to help.

Open educational resources (OER), educational materials that are in the public domain or with an open license, are also a cost-savings option for students. Many institutions encourage their professors to consider assigning OER on their syllabi, and some even have established programs to incentivize and fund faculty to develop original OER materials.

Campus stores work closely with professors and campus library staffs on OER initiatives and are partnering with companies such as OER industry leader OpenStax to stock low cost print copies of open textbooks.

“We support and champion student access to affordable course materials,” said Jenny Febbo, NACS spokesperson. “There are many cost options for students to explore, and their local campus store can help.”

About The National Association of College Stores:
The National Association of College Stores (NACS) is the professional trade association representing the $10 billion collegiate retailing industry. NACS represents nearly 3,000 campus retailers and approximately 1,000 industry-related companies that supply course materials and other merchandise and services to campus stores. NACS provides education and other resources that help its member stores support student success, the campus experience, and the academic missions of higher education institutions. NACS is headquartered in Oberlin, Ohio. Additional information can be found online at www.nacs.org.

OYSTER BAY, NY, Feb. 17 – “The Making of CCS”, is based on the creation of New York’s Automotive and Petroliana Museum — Collector Car Showcase – that opened in January 2015. A Web series starring CCS founder/creator David Jacobson, will debut its four episodes exclusively on www.collectorcs.com, beginning Feb. 18.

The first episode, “Raise Your Hand if you’re an Expert” will premiere on the website with a new episode to be released bi-weekly through the end of March.

The 30-minute show will take you through the interesting, wacky, fun, and exciting journey that Jacobson and his team took while building and curating this automotive historical masterpiece.

In the series, Jacobson meets with experts and collectors from the automotive and sign collecting worlds while his patience is tested by contractors and deadlines.

“Documenting the building of CCS was originally for my own purpose,” he explained. “After a few weeks of shooting, we realized just how interesting and fun it would be for people to watch. Today’s fast-moving technology was also key in enabling us to distribute the series to a wider audience on the internet. For this reason alone, we chose to forego the TV route, where you find programs like ‘Jay Leno’s Garage’, and elected to release it as a Web series similar to Jerry Seinfeld’s ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’.”

It has been a blast and a pleasure working on “The Making of CCS” with David and the team since Nov. 2012, offered Keith Muller, president of MVP Productions in Franklin Square, NY. “It’s a pleasure to bring this fantastic show to audiences throughout the country and abroad and to be able to offer advertisers the opportunity to position their brands on this unique show.”

The web series can be viewed at www.collectorcs.com on any electronic devise that has access to the Internet. Smart phones, tablets, iPad, Internet TV and other mobile and home-based electronic devises are applicable.

About Collector Car Showcase
Conceived in 2012 by David Jacobson, the 18,000-square-foot multi level facility opened in January 2015 on the southern approach to Oyster Bay, NY. Filled with antique cars, collector autos, Petroliana, related memorabilia from the early 1900’s thru 1970 and the advertising that promoted this on the silver screen and airwaves, Collector Car Showcase operates five days a week. Hours of operation and other information may be found at www.collectorcs.com.

FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY, USA — February 17, 2016 — U.S. students pursuing a degree in engineering are urged to apply by the April 3, 2016, deadline to the 2016 ASCO Industrial Automation Engineering Scholarship program.

ASCO will award two $5,000 scholarships to U.S. engineering students, provide $1,000 grants to their college’s engineering departments, and host the students at “The Amazing Packaging Race” at PACK EXPO International in 2016.

“ASCO’s engineering scholarship program will continue to provide opportunities for today’s engineering students,” said Robert W. Kemple, Jr., executive vice president, sales and marketing – Americas, of ASCO, the world’s leading manufacturer of comprehensive fluid automation, flow control, and pneumatics solutions. “At ASCO, engineering and innovation are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to continue our role in supporting the education of the world’s next-generation of engineering leaders.”

Over the past 9 years, ASCO has awarded $80,000 in scholarships to 16 students based on their potential for leadership and for making a significant contribution to the industrial automation engineering profession. In addition, ASCO has provided another $16,000 in grants to the engineering departments of the colleges in which the winners are enrolled.

The ASCO scholarship is merit-based and will be awarded on the candidate’s potential for leadership and for making a significant contribution to the industrial automation engineering profession, particularly as it relates to the application of fluid control and fluid power technologies. A panel of ASCO executives and independent judges will select the finalists.

To apply, students must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate program in an instrumentation, systems, electrical, mechanical, or automation engineering discipline at an accredited U.S. educational institution for the 2016/2017 academic year. Candidates must also maintain at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, and be a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident. The deadline to apply is April 3, 2016. Details and forms are available at http://www.asco.com/en-us/Pages/scholarship.aspx.

ASCO will award the scholarships at “The Amazing Packaging Race” at PACK EXPO International, to take place in Chicago from November 6 – 9, 2016. The race, sponsored by ASCO, is a fun and educational event that pits teams of packaging students, from programs around the country, against each other in a race to gather points by completing tasks at specific PACK EXPO booths.

About ASCO
ASCO, an Emerson company, offers comprehensive solutions of fluid automation products for a broad range of process and manufacturing industry applications. The company’s global scale increases speed to market, its deep expertise across applications transforms ideas into measurable outcomes, and its people create solutions that maximize efficiencies and optimize customer applications. ASCO’s fluid control and pneumatic product lines include a full range of solenoid valves, angle body piston valves, valve manifolds, cylinders, filters, regulators, lubricators and a complete range of accessories. For more information, visit www.asco.com.

About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets around the world. The company is comprised of five business segments: Process Management, Industrial Automation, Network Power, Climate Technologies, and Commercial & Residential Solutions. Sales in fiscal 2015 were $22.3 billion. For more information, visit Emerson.com.

San Francisco, Calif. – February 15, 2016– In celebration of Random Acts of Kindness Week (Feb. 15 – 20), SKOUT, the global app that helps you meet new people and expand your social circle, surveyed more than 2,700 of its users to see how people feel about doing and receiving unexpected acts of kindness. The survey showed that despite their busy schedules, 51% of college students perform a random act of kindness for someone every day, and 93% have done something unexpected and kind for a stranger.

Skout’s survey also asked college students to rank 10 random acts of kindness according to how meaningful they are. Here are the results, in order of most meaningful to least:

1. Pay it “backward” at a coffee shop or drive-thru.
2. Send a text to a friend, just thanking them for being your friend.
3. Hug a friend when they least expect it.
4. Don’t just leave a 15-20% tip at a restaurant, leave a more than generous tip for your waiter.
5. Borrow a friend’s car and fill it up with a full tank of gas.
6. Write a nice message on a sticky note and put it somewhere, where it can be found by somebody else.
7. Empty your spare change into the charity collection box at your local convenience store. For extra kindness points, break out the dollars!
8. Hold a door open for someone.
9. Buy flowers or a piece of chocolate, and give them to someone who looks like they would appreciate it.
10. Take flowers to a nursing home and ask that they be delivered to someone who doesn’t get many visitors.

To celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week, SKOUT is asking its millions of users to perform random acts of kindness on- and offline throughout this week and share their good deeds with the SKOUT community using the hashtag #SKOUTkind. SKOUT employees this week are performing random acts of kindness throughout San Francisco as well as holding a food drive to benefit the SF-Marin Food Bank.

SKOUT conducted its Random Acts of Kindness survey online in January 2016 among 2,706 of its users who reside in the U.S. 188 of the respondents identified themselves as college students.

About SKOUT
SKOUT is the largest global platform for meeting new people and expanding your social circle. The SKOUT community spans more than 180 countries and is available in 16 languages. SKOUT is dedicated to providing a platform through which people can easily and safely connect. The Andreessen Horowitz backed company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco. Visit skout.com to learn more.